Facebook Rolling Out Redesigned Messenger App With Simplified Interface and Customizable Chat Bubbles
Facebook today announced that it’s rolling out a redesigned, simplified version of the Messenger app on a global basis starting today.
Messenger 4, as Facebook is calling it, will refocus on conversations, making it easier to navigate through the app. Instead of nine separate tabs, there will be three tabs, with conversations quickly accessible through the “Chats” tab. Quick access to the camera for sharing photos and for video chats is also included in the Chats tab.
In the new “People” tab, Messenger users will be able to find friends, see who is active, and watch people’s Stories, while the new “Discover” tab will let users find businesses to get deals, play games, follow news stories, and more.
Conversations with people can be customized using color gradients. With color gradients, multiple colors can be used for chat bubbles, and the colors will change as you scroll up and down a conversation.
According to Facebook, the new Messenger app will roll out to customers “over the coming weeks” so not everyone will have access to the refreshed design right away.
In the near future, Facebook also plans to roll out a Dark Mode that will cut down on glare from the phone at night.
Tags: Facebook, Facebook Messenger
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Multiple iCloud Services Experiencing Issues
Several iCloud services are experiencing problems this afternoon, according to Apple’s System Status Page.
iCloud Drive, iCloud Mail, iCloud Keychain, iCloud Contacts, iCloud Calendar, Mail Drop, Find My iPhone, and more are performing “slower than normal” for some users.
The problem has been ongoing since 8:51 a.m. Pacific Time this morning, and there’s no word on when it might clear up.
If you’ve been noticing problems with iCloud services, this outage is the reason why. We’ll update this post when the problem is resolved.
Tag: iCloud
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Apple’s Upcoming TV Service to Launch in 100+ Countries in 2019, Starting With the U.S.
Apple’s rumored television service that is in the works to showcase its original TV shows will be available in more than 100 countries, according to a new report from The Information citing details obtained from three inside sources.
Apple is said to be planning to launch the service in the United States in the first half of 2019, with a global expansion to follow later in the year.
According to The Information, Apple’s original content will be made available for free to Apple device owners, a rumor we heard earlier this month from CNBC.
While Apple’s content will be available at no cost, Apple will encourage users to sign up for television subscriptions from other cable networks such as HBO or STARZ.
Apple has reportedly started negotiating with content providers about what it will pay to carry TV shows and movies, but programming is not expected to be the same in each country. It is also not quite clear how Apple content will be positioned alongside content from third-party services.
It is unclear how the original programming will appear next to media companies’ channels, which is an issue as some try to negotiate with Apple about getting their shows on the app, said another person familiar with these discussions.
By making third-party content available via the streaming service and launching it in most countries around the world, Apple will be able to better compete with Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, both of which are available in 190+ countries.
Apple has more than a dozen original television shows in the works, and some with high-profile actors and actresses that are likely to attract a number of viewers.
Apple has also inked deals with Oprah Winfrey and Sesame Workshop for new television shows, including children’s programs.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12Tag: Apple’s Hollywood ambitionsBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Caution)
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Nvidia’s new GTX 1060 6GB could counter AMD’s rumored RX 590
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
It looks like AMD isn’t the only company looking to refresh midrange cards from two years ago. Following on from rumors of AMD working on a new RX 590 card based on a revised Polaris 30 GPU, Nvidia has debuted an iteration of its most popular midrange card, the GTX 1060. This new version has faster memory, potentially providing greater competition for AMD’s as-yet-unreleased refresh.
As much as Nvidia’s new RTX-series cards are exciting, they are priced high enough that the majority of gamers and consumers are unlikely to ever adopt them. The Steam Hardware Survey shows us that the most popular cards are time and again the far more affordable — they’re our favorites too. No doubt those figures would be even more skewed if GPU pricing problems of the past couple of years hadn’t prevented many gamers from upgrading. That’s why a refresh of both AMD and Nvidia’s midrange cards is so important, despite the GPUs offering only small overall improvements.
Where AMD’s RX 590 boosted core clock speed, though, Nvidia has instead focused on the memory of its new GTX 1060 refresh. It upgrades the GDDR5 from the original GTX 1060 6GB to GDDR5X. While the official specifications suggest that hasn’t actually increased speed, the newer, more capable standard should see a rise in overall bandwidth leading to greater performance for the card.
It does appear that the revised GTX 1060 has replaced the older variant on Nvidia’s official site, but as TechRadar points out, that listing doesn’t mention other GTX 1060 revisions, like one sporting 9Gbps GDDR5 memory, either.
It may be that we’ll need to wait for third parties to adopt this new standard to find out what kind of clocks and overall memory bandwidth will result from the upgrade. Pricing is arguably the more important factor, however, as if this new card retains standard GTX 1060 pricing of around $280, then it could prove to be a competitive entry in the mid-market.
However, with AMD’s RX 580 still offering comparable (or in some cases better) performance than the existing 1060 6GB, the RX 590 could prove to be a better midrange card still. If it’s priced competitively, that is. If it comes in at around the $250 price point the RX 580 currently occupies, Nvidia’s refresh may seem far less desirable.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Asus claims ‘world’s thinnest’ title with its new Zephyrus S gaming laptop
- Leaked benchmarks suggest rumored AMD GPU could be king of midrange graphics
- Nvidia vs. AMD
- AMD RX 500 graphics card refresh may launch in 2019 with die shrink, clock boost
- Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 might launch next year without ray tracing
What to expect from Apple’s October 30 event: New MacBooks, iPads
If you weren’t satisfied with three iPhones and a new Apple Watch this year, Apple announced it’s hosting another hardware event on October 30th, sending out invites to a number of media outlets (including yours truly). For those not keeping score, this is Apple’s fourth event this year, following the iPad event in May, June’s WWDC 2018, and the iPhone reveal event in September.
What’s left for Apple to realistically announce on October 30? Quite a lot, as it turns out — we’re expecting to finally see some of the year’s hottest new Apple tech, including a new MacBook, an updated iPad Pro, and possibly even a new Mac Mini. Here’s what to expect from Apple’s October 30 event.
An updated MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is the oldest model of the MacBook currently sold by Apple, and it’s long filled a lower-cost slot that the MacBook 12 and MacBook Pro simply can’t fulfill. But while the Air’s staying power is clearly strong, it’s suffering from a loss of identity as the smallest and thinnest MacBook since regular MacBooks have gone on a serious diet. The design looks outdated for a 2018 laptop, the fifth-generation i5 is old, and the display is not great.
An updated MacBook Air is rumored to tackle a lot of the common issues with the current model, and would come with a Retina display, modern USB-C ports, and an eighth-generation Intel processor. Bezels would likely be slimmed down, and a larger display could be present as a result.
The MacBook Air has been the “affordable” MacBook for some time now, and we expect that to probably stay the same with an updated model — expect a price of $1,000 or lower.
Read more
MacBook Air 2018 news
iPad Pro 2018
iPhones got a huge new style update with the iPhone X, and many are expecting to see a similar design update come to the new iPad Pro. Along with the usual bump in specs, prospective iPad buyers can expect to see a significant drop in bezels surrounding the screen, along with a removal of the iconic home button. While there’s a limit on how much bezels can reasonably be reduced on a tablet-sized device — since you need them to hold the device — there’s still room to reduce bezels, based on the slimmer iPad 9.7 2018.
The removal of the home button will mean the new iPad Pro would rely entirely on Face ID for bio-based unlocking, which previous rumors suggested would not work in landscape mode. Thankfully, the most recent rumors claim Face ID will work in any orientation, so it’ll work on the iPad Pro even when docked with a keyboard. A new Apple Pencil might be introduced alongside the iPad Pro too, so expect to see more features for Apple’s stylus if that does happen.
Read more
iPad Pro 2018 news
Mac Mini
The Mac Mini is another of Apple’s lines that hasn’t seen an update for some time — in this case, Apple hasn’t released a new Mac Mini since 2014. For comparison, that’s the same year Apple launched the iPhone 6, so it’s clear that the Mac’s smallest brother is well due an update.
An updated Mac Mini would see a big specs bump to an eight-generation Intel processor, would probably replace outdated hard drives with smaller solid state drives, and would also probably see the inclusion of some more modern ports — USB-C anyone? While the Mac Mini was usually intended for people who need a small machine tucked out of the way, a new design may also be in the works.
Read more
Mac Mini news
AirPods 2
You might feel it has barely been any time at all since the release of Apple’s AirPods, but you can be sure that Apple is working on an updated version to cash in on the success of the originals.
There are a lot of rumors circulating features that would be added to AirPods 2, and noise cancelling and water resistance seem to be at the top of the list. Being able to summon Siri with a hotword rather than tapping the earphones are just a few more features you may expect. Another claim holds Apple is working on getting some form of biometric functionality into its earphones — possibly a heart-rate sensor.
It’s not all about the earphones themselves too — a recent patent shows Apple is playing with the idea of adding a storage capacity to the Airpods case, and making them capable of storing music. That would certainly be a huge advantage — but don’t expect to see them yet. It’s far more likely we’ll see these in early 2019.
Read more
AirPods 2 news
AirPower
AFP Contributor/Getty Images
Apple first introduced the AirPower charger last year when it revealed the iPhone X’s wireless charging abilities — but we’ve seen precious little else of Apple’s multi-device-charging pad since that initial reveal.
Unfortunately it seems that AirPower may have been a little too much, even for Apple. Mention of the AirPower charger has disappeared from Apple’s website, and rumors say that heat management was an enormous issue with the mat, as were communication issues with devices.
It’s entirely possible that this project is completely dead for the time being, so don’t hold out much hope that we’ll be seeing it at the October 30 event. Might it get an update? Maybe, but Apple will probably prefer to ignore that AirPower ever existed. Don’t bet on this appearing on stage.
Read more
AirPower news
Editors’ Recommendations
- What to expect from Apple’s September 12 ‘Gather Round’ event
- Is Apple planning an all-Mac keynote later this fall?
- Refreshed MacBook Air and iPad Pro are absent from Apple’s website leak
- Apple could announce a new MacBook this week. Here’s what we want to see
- Here’s everything we know about Apple’s AirPower wireless charging mat
What to expect from Apple’s October 30 event: New MacBooks, iPads
If you weren’t satisfied with three iPhones and a new Apple Watch this year, Apple announced it’s hosting another hardware event on October 30th, sending out invites to a number of media outlets (including yours truly). For those not keeping score, this is Apple’s fourth event this year, following the iPad event in May, June’s WWDC 2018, and the iPhone reveal event in September.
What’s left for Apple to realistically announce on October 30? Quite a lot, as it turns out — we’re expecting to finally see some of the year’s hottest new Apple tech, including a new MacBook, an updated iPad Pro, and possibly even a new Mac Mini. Here’s what to expect from Apple’s October 30 event.
An updated MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is the oldest model of the MacBook currently sold by Apple, and it’s long filled a lower-cost slot that the MacBook 12 and MacBook Pro simply can’t fulfill. But while the Air’s staying power is clearly strong, it’s suffering from a loss of identity as the smallest and thinnest MacBook since regular MacBooks have gone on a serious diet. The design looks outdated for a 2018 laptop, the fifth-generation i5 is old, and the display is not great.
An updated MacBook Air is rumored to tackle a lot of the common issues with the current model, and would come with a Retina display, modern USB-C ports, and an eighth-generation Intel processor. Bezels would likely be slimmed down, and a larger display could be present as a result.
The MacBook Air has been the “affordable” MacBook for some time now, and we expect that to probably stay the same with an updated model — expect a price of $1,000 or lower.
Read more
MacBook Air 2018 news
iPad Pro 2018
iPhones got a huge new style update with the iPhone X, and many are expecting to see a similar design update come to the new iPad Pro. Along with the usual bump in specs, prospective iPad buyers can expect to see a significant drop in bezels surrounding the screen, along with a removal of the iconic home button. While there’s a limit on how much bezels can reasonably be reduced on a tablet-sized device — since you need them to hold the device — there’s still room to reduce bezels, based on the slimmer iPad 9.7 2018.
The removal of the home button will mean the new iPad Pro would rely entirely on Face ID for bio-based unlocking, which previous rumors suggested would not work in landscape mode. Thankfully, the most recent rumors claim Face ID will work in any orientation, so it’ll work on the iPad Pro even when docked with a keyboard. A new Apple Pencil might be introduced alongside the iPad Pro too, so expect to see more features for Apple’s stylus if that does happen.
Read more
iPad Pro 2018 news
Mac Mini
The Mac Mini is another of Apple’s lines that hasn’t seen an update for some time — in this case, Apple hasn’t released a new Mac Mini since 2014. For comparison, that’s the same year Apple launched the iPhone 6, so it’s clear that the Mac’s smallest brother is well due an update.
An updated Mac Mini would see a big specs bump to an eight-generation Intel processor, would probably replace outdated hard drives with smaller solid state drives, and would also probably see the inclusion of some more modern ports — USB-C anyone? While the Mac Mini was usually intended for people who need a small machine tucked out of the way, a new design may also be in the works.
Read more
Mac Mini news
AirPods 2
You might feel it has barely been any time at all since the release of Apple’s AirPods, but you can be sure that Apple is working on an updated version to cash in on the success of the originals.
There are a lot of rumors circulating features that would be added to AirPods 2, and noise cancelling and water resistance seem to be at the top of the list. Being able to summon Siri with a hotword rather than tapping the earphones are just a few more features you may expect. Another claim holds Apple is working on getting some form of biometric functionality into its earphones — possibly a heart-rate sensor.
It’s not all about the earphones themselves too — a recent patent shows Apple is playing with the idea of adding a storage capacity to the Airpods case, and making them capable of storing music. That would certainly be a huge advantage — but don’t expect to see them yet. It’s far more likely we’ll see these in early 2019.
Read more
AirPods 2 news
AirPower
AFP Contributor/Getty Images
Apple first introduced the AirPower charger last year when it revealed the iPhone X’s wireless charging abilities — but we’ve seen precious little else of Apple’s multi-device-charging pad since that initial reveal.
Unfortunately it seems that AirPower may have been a little too much, even for Apple. Mention of the AirPower charger has disappeared from Apple’s website, and rumors say that heat management was an enormous issue with the mat, as were communication issues with devices.
It’s entirely possible that this project is completely dead for the time being, so don’t hold out much hope that we’ll be seeing it at the October 30 event. Might it get an update? Maybe, but Apple will probably prefer to ignore that AirPower ever existed. Don’t bet on this appearing on stage.
Read more
AirPower news
Editors’ Recommendations
- What to expect from Apple’s September 12 ‘Gather Round’ event
- Is Apple planning an all-Mac keynote later this fall?
- Refreshed MacBook Air and iPad Pro are absent from Apple’s website leak
- Apple could announce a new MacBook this week. Here’s what we want to see
- Here’s everything we know about Apple’s AirPower wireless charging mat
The Pixel’s Night Sight mode is currently available (but hidden)
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Pixel range has always had some of the best smartphone cameras in the world, and Google promised to add to its impressive arsenal with additional features like Night Sight — a low-light mode that uses A.I. and the Pixel’s super-fast HDR processing to dramatically boost photos taken in low light. It seems Google’s almost ready to release the feature, too, as the latest update to Google Camera contains a fully functional version of the mode.
But don’t run off to find a dark enough spot to test it out just yet — it’s not currently enabled, and you’ll need to do some jiggery-pokery in the camera app’s code before you can access it for yourself. Thankfully, someone’s already done the hard work. If you’re really looking forward to testing out the results of Google’s newest mode, then you can download the modified APK and test it out for yourself by sideloading it onto any Pixel phone.
Since this isn’t an official app, you take on the installing of this app at your own risk. It will also install as a separate app, so make sure you launch the right one if you do take the plunge. Since this isn’t the final release, it’s also likely Google is putting the final touches on the Night Sight mode — so it’s possible the actual release will be even better than the example pictures taken with this sideloaded app.
We haven’t had a chance to test out the app for ourselves just yet — we need to wait for it to get dark, folks — but we’ll be sending one unlucky soul out into the cold dark as soon as it’s feasibly possible. Until then, XDA Developers has released some comparison shots that show off just how good the mode seems to be. While some images taken with a strong background light come out slightly overexposed, the majority of the images show off some utterly amazing transformations.
Not rocking a Pixel phone? Unfortunately this APK will only work with the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, and the Pixel 3, and Pixel 3 XL. But since it’s software-based it’s possible someone will adapt an APK to suit your phone soon.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Google Pixel 3 XL review
- Google Pixel 3 review
- The best smartphones of 2018
- The news is stressful, but easier on the eyes with new Google News dark theme
- Here’s everything Google announced at its October 9 event
A canceled education order is increasing hopes for new Macbook model
With Apple’s October 30 event fast approaching, rumors continue to surface about new Macs and iPad models. In the latest, a canceled education order is stoking hopes for a new MacBook model, as originally noted by 9to5Mac.
Though hard to verify, an email sent by Apple to an education customer revealed that an order with MacBook Air, iPad, and Apple Pencil is delayed and now shipping on October 30, with the time subject to change. That falls on the same day as the Apple event and it could be likely that the education order is being delayed just in favor of a new version of the MacBook instead.
The education customer originally ordered a 256GB 13-inch MacBook Air, which is a model that many expect to be phased out for a similar to the 12-inch MacBook. There also remains the possibility that this same model is out of stock, or Apple is just swapping out orders for a MacBook with newer specs and at a new price.
Previous rumors have indicated that the new MacBook Air replacement model could come in at a costly $1,200. Currently, the highest-end MacBook Air comes in at the same price, but some have also talked about the price dropping to $999.
With the current top-range MacBook Air model sporting aging fifth-generation processors, it will also be interesting to see if a change to newer Intel chipsets will be taken into account for that price. Apple is apparently also considering transitioning away from Intel processors in favor of a custom A-series ARM-based chipset, but that is a while away by 2020.
As for other products expected at the October 30 event, there are hopes for an iPad Pro 2018 with smaller bezels, a specs bump for the Mac Mini, and also AirPods 2. And though a big wild shot, it could be possible that there might be mention of the AirPower charger, too.
The October 30 event would be Apple’s fourth of the year, coming after an iPad event, the Worldwide Developers Conference, and the most recent iPhone reveal. Considering recent device reveals from Google and Microsoft, the fall season is definitely a good time to be a fan of tech.
Editors’ Recommendations
- What to expect from Apple’s October 30 event: New MacBooks, iPads
- Apple’s new MacBook Air with Intel’s 8th-gen processors expected this year
- What’s the skinny? Apple may launch a new MacBook with ultrathin design soon
- Everything you need to know about the 2018 MacBook
- What to expect from Apple’s September 12 ‘Gather Round’ event
The best heavy duty cases for the Moto G6
The Moto G6 is a great phone for anyone on a budget. It’s got the premium look with Motorola opting for a glass back on this phone, but the phone price is affordable around $300. For that reason alone you might be more inclined to buy a heavy duty case to keep your phone safe from harm, but especially if your work requires you to use your phone in situations where you might drop your phone on concrete or other harsh surfaces. You can get a great case from Cimo for just $6, or spend a bit more on a reliable option like the Spigen Rugged Armor.
Always reliable
Spigen Rugged Armor Case
Spigen’s Rugged Armor case is my go-to case style for any new phone, so we’ll definitely recommend it here for the Moto G6. It’s got that carbon fiber finish at the top and bottom with a matte finish elsewhere, along with Spigen’s air cushion technology in the corners to help absorb impacts.
$11 at Amazon
Sleek and convenient
Encased Slimline Series w/ Belt Clip Holster
Encased offers a well-designed case for the Moto G6 that pairs heavy-duty protection with a streamlined design. There’s a metal kickstand in the back and the case comes with a belt clip holster so your phone is always accessible.
$14 at Amazon
360-degree protection
Poetic Revolution Full-Body Heavy Duty Case
This two-piece case combines rugged polycarbonate with shock-absorbing TPU to offer 360-degree protection including a built-in screen protector. The design includes dust flaps covering the ports to prevent dirt and pocket lint from getting into your phone, while the exterior of the case is covered in accents that help with grip and give it a unique look.
$17 at Amazon
Handy belt clip included
NageBee Heavy Duty Case w/ Belt Clip Holster
Often the added bulk of a heavy duty case makes it hard to carry the phone in your pocket, which is why you sometimes see rugged cases paired with a belt clip holster. This case combines a TPU inner sleeve with a rugged polycarbonate shell that features a pop-out kickstand for hands-free media viewing. Also available in black.
$10 at Retailer
Classic style
Cimo Carbon Armor Case
No need to spend a lot on a case, as Cimo has you covered with its $6 Carbon Armor case. This dual-layer case features a rugged outer shell combined with a silicone sleeve that features a carbon fiber finish along the top and bottom of the case. Available in three color styles
$6 at Amazon
Grippy design!
OEAGO Shockproof Defender Case
This $8 case from OEAGO is basically a triple-layer case that offers you excellent protection for your G6. It starts with a robust TPU sleeve, which is wrapped by a polycarbonate shell, which is then plated with another layer of TPU complete with a grippy texture to ensure your phone doesn’t slip off the table or out of your hand.
$8 at Amazon
Keep the glass on your Moto G6 protected with a heavy duty case. You can’t go wrong with any of these options, but if I had to trust my glass with one case, it would be the Spigen Rugged Armor case. It’s a one-piece case that’s easy to put on or take off and protects well while maintaining a sleek design.
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